Microsoft vets, Ciara, and Macklemore workforce up to very own Seattle Sounders soccer club – The Verge

Seattle Sounders FC is finding a large amount of new owners today as section of a joint ownership group spearheaded by former Microsoft govt Terry Myerson. Eleven people with connections to the Seattle location have teamed up to form a new possession team for the Sounders soccer club, and they involve some significant names. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and his wife Anu Nadella are aspect of the ownership team, along with Joe Belfiore, CVP of experiences and units at Microsoft, and his spouse Kristina Belfiore. Seattle-born rapper Macklemore and his spouse Tricia Davis are also signing up for the group. Here’s the full record:

Previous Fox Sports government David Nathanson and spouse Sabina Nathanson

Former Pandora CEO Brian McAndrews and spouse Elise Holschuh

Softbank managing husband or wife Mark Agne and spouse Tomoko Agne

Immediately after departing as Microsoft’s Home windows chief very last summer, Myerson has been instrumental in bringing together these family members and pushing by way of the improve in ownership. Myerson was intrigued after Joe Roth, the founding lover of Sounders FC, resolved to market his equity in the club previous year. A Californian-based financial investment team had been eyeing Roth’s share to try to choose regulate of the group. “I rapidly recognized the worth of Joe’s equity – and that I could not do this by itself,” describes Myerson in a thorough blog site write-up recounting the deal. “I would have to have to locate a group of like-minded individuals, who have been eager to invest in the Sounders as a pillar of the Seattle local community, and were being prepared to make the bet that soccer would grow in recognition along with me.”

Nadella was the very first person Myerson emailed about the option to help save the Sounders possession and hold the staff ownership in Seattle. Nadella and Microsoft CFO Amy Hood promptly signed up to assist, along with Joe Belfiore and former Microsoft application manager Christine Chew.

Myerson is now a husband or wife at undertaking cash business Madrona. By way of a collection of connections, he was even equipped to influence Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson to get associated in the possession team. That led to Macklemore listening to about the team and helping retain Seattle-based mostly ownership of the Sounders.

The adjust in possession inevitably shut on July 31st, roughly fifteen months after Myerson very first started off conversations. All-around 31 men and women or businesses were being included in the deal, and Adrian Hanauer, Drew Carey, and Jody Allen will all go on their dedicated tenures with Sounders FC. The Seattle-centered soccer club is not revealing how much the ownership group invested to make the deal happen.